News
Unions welcome Unilever’s decision to agree to talks
Unilever management has agreed to engage in talks with conciliation service ACAS.
Explore
Legislation & legal
Keep up to date with legislation and legal matters in the food and beverage industry.
News
IBWA responds to University of Vermont bottled water ban
After the University of Vermont revealed that the school “will become one of the first institutions nationwide to end the sale of bottled water on campus,” the IBWA has issued a statement in response.
News
MEPs veto ‘misleading’ food labelling changes
The European Parliament has blocked changes to labelling that would have allowed new ‘percentage less’ claims on nutrition content, such as sugar, salt and fat.
News
FDA places more orange juice companies on import alert
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is placing more Brazilian orange juice companies on Import Alert for the presence of Carbendazim/MBC, according to the FDA consulting firm, FDAImports.com.
News
AssuriTEA Green is affirmed as GRAS for food and beverages
An independent panel of scientific experts unanimously concluded that AssuriTEA Green, meeting food grade specifications, is Generally Recognised as Safe (GRAS).
News
Sweet Green Fields granted US patent for stevia extraction
Sweet Green Fields (SGF), a US-based global producer of high purity stevia extracts, has been granted a US patent covering the company’s highly efficient method for extracting Rebaudioside-A (RA).
News
Update on juice safety from the Juice Products Association
Based upon the risk assessment of carbendazim by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration has repeatedly stated that orange juice being sold in the US is safe.
News
Food groups urge administration to reject new food taxes
The AFFI and a coalition of more than 30 food groups have urged senior administration leaders to develop a budget request that funds the FDA food safety programmes.
News
Global standard for substantiating health claims in progress
Over the next four years a major consortium led by TNO will be developing standardised research methods for use in studies into the health effects of food.
News
Update to new food business operator approval process
Food businesses approved by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) that change food business operator (FBO) after 31 January will need a new approval.
News
Praise for inclusion of dairy in new school lunch guidelines
Dean Foods has commended the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for recognising the importance of dairy in the revised nutrition standards for school lunches.
News
FDA urged to respond to bisphenol packaging petition
In recent weeks, various organisations and individuals, in numerous publications and oral comments, have made statements about the settlement reached between the FDA and the NRDC.
News
IDFA concerned about lack of milk variety in US schools
The IDFA has commended the USDA for highlighting the nutritional role that dairy products play in the final regulations governing the reimbursable school meal programme that has been released.
News
New method for assessing dairy cows’ welfare from EFSA
Animal-based measures to assess the welfare of dairy cows and pigs are effective and should be used wherever possible, according to recent scientific advice from the European Food Safety Authority (EF
News
Ukraine mineral and drinking water association formed
Ukrainian bottled mineral and drinking water companies, including IDS Group Ukraine and Coca-Cola Ukraine, have decided to form the Association of Mineral and Drinking Water Manufactures of Ukraine.
Opinion
Fighting obesity with Photoshop
Two weeks ago, I wrote about the shocking advertising campaign from the New York Health Department that warned that soft drinks consumption can lead to amputation.
News
FutureCeuticals claims Kona Red released misleading opinion
FutureCeuticals has said that a cloud of uncertainty continues to hang over KonaRed’s entire business as it engages in tired procedural tactics designed to defer a patent lawsuit brought by FC.
News
Iceland recalls minced lamb due to salmonella risk
Iceland is recalling its frozen minced lamb because some batches may be contaminated with salmonella.
News
FDA warned on dangers of salt restriction
The Weston A Price Foundation (WAPF) has warned the FDA that plans for salt restriction pose a health threat to Americans of all ages, in comments submitted to the agency.
News
Fonterra says Raw Milk Regulations will line foreign pockets
Fonterra has said that the New Zealand Government’s proposed change to the Raw Milk Regulations won’t work and warns that New Zealanders will subsidise increasingly foreign-owned dairy processors.
News
New science strategy published by EFSA
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the European Union’s General Food Law and the establishment of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
News
KonaRed achieves victory in fight against lawsuit
KonaRed has achieved a major victory and milestone in its fight against the unwarranted lawsuit brought against the company by VDF Futureceuticals.
Opinion
Is this the end of airport liquid bans?
By the end of April 2013, the frustrating ritual of dumping your bottled water, other drinks and even cosmetics and toiletries at airport security may be over.
News
Bayer CropScience files third lawsuit
Bayer CropScience has filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against Dow AgroSciences.
News
Advocacy group responds to poultry inspection proposal
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nonprofit health advocacy group based in the US, has released a statement in response to USDA’s poultry proposal.
News
New device will allow bottled water through airport security
The liquids through security ban, in place since 2006, will be lifted in April 2013.
News
NutraCea makes final payments under plan of reorganisation
NutraCea has confirmed final payment of all amounts due to creditors under the terms of its plan of reorganisation.
News
Schiff Nutrition files for stay in patent infringement suit
Schiff Nutrition International, has confirmed that Schiff, Aker BioMarine Antarctic USA, and Aker BioMarine ASA have filed a motion to stay the lawsuit for patent infringement filed by Neptune.
News
Fair Trade USA updates Multiple Ingredients Product Policy
Fair Trade USA, the third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the US, has unveiled a newly redesigned certification label and significant revisions to its Multiple Ingredients Product Policy.
News
New FDA food safety rules generates industry unease
The most sweeping reforms of the nation’s food safety rules in over seventy years are being implemented by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and have led to an influx of comments from the industry.
News
EFSA issues positive opinion on Cargill’s health claim
European food and beverage manufacturers will soon be able to use a stronger health claim on products that contain Barliv barley betafiber (beta-glucan).
News
Unilever staff start to strike over pensions
A series of strikes by workers at consumer goods giant Unilever is set to start, with picket lines mounted at several sites in a worsening row over pensions.
News
FSA publishes meat plants audit reports
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has started the regular publication of audit reports of approved meat plants in England, Scotland and Wales.
News
More strikes to hit Unilever as workers step up action
A rolling programme of strike action is set to hit corporate giant Unilever’s UK operations as workers step up action to defend their pension scheme.
News
Advice from the FSA on new gluten labelling law
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has produced a fact sheet to help people who have an intolerance to gluten (a protein found in cereals) understand a new food labelling law, which came into force on 1
News
Dr Pepper Snapple buys Dublin bottler, settling lawsuit
Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Dr Pepper Bottling Co of Dublin, Texas, have resolved all litigation over the Dr Pepper trademark and distribution rights, the companies have confirmed.
News
US trial begins in wake of agriculture worker deaths
A Walkerton, Ontario trial, scheduled January 11–14, comes 16 months following the deaths of two Jamaican migrant workers who died after exposure to toxic fumes while working at an Ontario farm (US).
Opinion
Do ‘shock and awe’ tactics to fight obesity actually work?
The shocking advertising campaign launched by the Health Department in New York graphically warns that consuming super-sized carbonated soft drinks can lead to an amputation.
News
Waitrose withdraws salmon and dill fishcakes
Waitrose is withdrawing its own brand Essential Salmon and Dill Fishcakes because of incorrect allergy labelling.
News
BioExx gain GRAS notification for Isolexx and Vitalexx
BioExx Specialty Proteins has received a letter from the FDA, which confirms that it has no questions regarding BioExx’s conclusion that its canola protein products are Generally Recognised As Safe.
News
Makro recalls meat due to listeria contamination
Makro is recalling certain batches of tapas meat products because some are contaminated with listeria.
News
FSA awards new contracts for shellfish monitoring
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has awarded contracts for services to support the official control shellfish monitoring programme in Scotland.
News
FDA to increase fungicide testing in orange juice
The FDA has issued a letter alerting the orange juice processing industry to the agency’s position with respect to recent reports of finding of the fungicide carbendazim in orange juice.
News
FSA food business operator approval deadline approaches
Food businesses approved by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) are being urged to contact the agency if they have changed operator since 1 January 2006.
News
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company to close 14 stores
A&P has filed a motion with the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York seeking approval to close 14 stores in four states as the company prepares to emerge from Chapter 11.
News
Australian council calls for action on factory closures
The closure of the Heinz Australia factory in Girgarre is indicative of the immense pressures facing food and grocery manufacturers to remain competitive, the AFGC has warned.
News
SunOpta provides update on arbitration ruling
SunOpta has received the rendered decision of the arbitrator in the Colorado Mills v Sunrich arbitration matter.
News
FSA update on colours associated with hyperactivity
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has updated its list of product ranges that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children.
News
Hansen Natural changes name to Monster Beverage Corporation
At a special meeting of stockholders on 5 January, Hansen Natural Corporation gained approval to change its corporate name to Monster Beverage Corporation.
Opinion
Mobile technology applications to replace eco-labels?
Smart barcodes are appearing on an increasing number of consumer products. While this is encouraging more sustainable products, Organic Monitor believes it could lead to the demise of some eco-labels.